First, prayer is not an option; for the believer, prayer is a command. In 1 Samuel 12:23 we are taught that not praying for others is sin. If we are failing to pray for others, for those that God has burdened us with, we are sinning. We are commanded to pray.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, we are told to: pray without ceasing and in Colossians 4:2, we are to: Continue steadfastly in prayer.

2. Prayer is Right and Proper

Secondly, prayer is right and proper. This is the point of Luke 18:1: And he spoke a parable unto them to the end that they ought always to pray, and not to faint.

Yeshua (Jesus) told a parable to encourage people to continue praying because praying is both right and proper.

3. God Bestows Gifts and Blessings Through Prayer

Thirdly, prayer is a medium through which God bestows His gifts and blessings (Dan. 9:3; Mat. 7:7–11; 21:22; Jas. 1:5).

4. Prayer is Essential to Victory

Fourthly, prayer is essential to victory. This comes out rather clearly in Ephesians 6:10–18, the famous passage on the spiritual warfare. He is primarily dealing with the pieces of the armor, which is largely the Word of God. Three times He tells us that by means of this armor, we will be able to resist or stand against the Devil.

But then after dealing with the various pieces of the armor in the spiritual warfare, he states in Ephesians 6:18: with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.

The secret ingredient for victory in the spiritual warfare is prayer; thus, prayer is essential to victory.

5. Prayer is the Example of the Messiah

A fifth reason for praying is to follow the example of the Messiah. He is our greatest example; He is the one that we are to follow, and we are to follow Him in prayer as well. Jesus prayed frequently (Mk. 1:35; Heb. 5:7).

6. Prayer is the Example of the Early Church

A sixth reason for praying is to follow the example of the early Church. The early Church was characterized by prayer (Acts 6:4; 12:5). We need to follow the examples of the early Church.

7. Prayer is a Channel of Deliverance

A seventh reason for praying is that prayer is a channel of deliverance; by means of prayer, God is delivering us. We see this in eight different ways: first, we are delivered from temptation by means of prayer (Mat. 26:41); second, we are delivered from discouragement by prayer (Lk. 18:1); third, we are delivered from adverse circumstances by prayer (Acts 12:3–19); fourth, we are delivered from ignorance or lack of wisdom by prayer (Col. 1:9; Jas. 1:5); fifth, we are delivered from physical sickness and death by means of prayer when God so chooses (Acts 28:8; Jas. 5:13–17); sixth, we are delivered from needs by means of prayer (Jas. 4:7); seventh, we are delivered from unbelievers by means of prayer (Rom. 15:30–33); and eighth, we are delivered from Satan by means of our prayer (Eph. 6:18).

So, prayer is a channel of deliverance that we need to consistently use. That is another reason why we need to pray.

8. Prayer is the Channel for Spiritual Maturity

The eighth reason for praying is that prayer is also the channel for spiritual maturity; it is the means by which God brings us to maturity. This is seen in five different ways: first, it is the means by which we fight the spiritual warfare (Eph. 6:10–18); second, it is the means to spiritual growth (Eph. 1:15–23; 3:14–21; Col. 1:9–14); third, it is by means of prayer that we develop spiritual boldness (Acts 4:19–21; Eph. 6:18–19); fourth, by means of prayer we obtain the salvation of the lost (Rom. 10:1); and, fifth, by means of prayer we do the work of world evangelism (Mat. 9:37–38).[1]